TEEN AMONGST THORNS

Chapter Three: Scuffle

“Baby.”

“Lexi.”

She reached up an wrapped her arms around her boyfriend’s thick neck. “What took you so long?”

“I had something to attend to,” Tooth(Gordon) replied.

“Mind telling me what that was?” She scrutinised his face.

“That’s enough now, Lexi.” He gently pried her hands off his shoulders. “Happy birthday.” He produced a little box from the pocket of his coat and handed it to her.

Lexi smiled when she saw the contents of the box. “A gold necklace. Not bad, Gordon. But I have many of’em.”

“That’s why I got you this.”

“Oh my f*****g goodness! Is…is this what it looks like? What I think it is?” Gordon’s face broke into a lazy grin. “Yes.”

Lexi planted a moist kiss on his stubbled chin. “I love you, you know that?” “Yeah, I do.” The side of Gordon’s face twitched as he answered.

“Narcissistic….” she stopped, and frowned. Kayden had called her just that this afternoon.

“What’s the bother?”

“Nothing,” she smiled swiftly. “Enjoy the party, Gordon. Don’t miss my pretty face too much.”

She glanced at him from under her lashes and swerved around his body, leaving the heat of her touch lingering on his face.

***

“That’s puppycock. Jake’s the best striker Lakefield High has. Coach couldn’t possibly be thinking of replacing him with me.”

“That’s what I thought too.” Danny tapped his glass against the counter. Jake tsked. “I think coach’s becoming senile.”

“He turned forty-seven this June.” Damien scoffed.

“Maybe you didn’t hear him well.” Kayden quickly put in. “Jake, I know how much you love that spot…”

“It doesn’t matter, Kayden. I’m sure he’ll come back to his senses.”

“Yeah, after we fail on our butts during the semis.” Fredrick snarled. “Changing goalies and strikers a few days to the semifinals. I don’t know what the hell got into Fowler’s head.”

“I personally think there’s nothing wrong with coach’s decisions.”

“Cause you’re the new goalie now, aren’t ya?” Fredrick jumped off his stool.

“Well, coach’s the one who makes the calls, in case you haven’t noticed,” Danny retorted. “So if he says I’m goalie, I’m goalie.”

“You think you’re any smarter than me?” Fredrick guffawed. “I’m not the one who’s failing Calculus,”

“You…” Fredrick lunged at Danny.

“Hey, hey, hey…” Jake rushed forward and held him back. “Let’s be civil here, aiit? We don’t wanna ruin Lexi’s party.”

“Like I care.” Fredrick snatched his arm from Jake’s grip and sat on a stool, shooting fire lasers at Danny with his eyes.

“Anyway, I need to get going. My mom will be worried if I’m not back home before ten.” “Where do you think you’re going?”

Kayden turned around. “Lexi.”

He stiffened as her hands suddenly came upon his shoulders. He looked down at her heavily made-up face.

“The party has barely even started.”

Kayden gently removed both her hands from his shoulders and stepped away, looking at his watch. “It’s been an hour now. I have to get going.”

He made to turn around but Lexi grabbed his arm and yanked him closer. His breath hitched. “Lexi, what are you…”

He was interrupted by a sudden rough tug on his shirt. Two angry eyes glared down at him as he turned to face a guy who looked like he was in his late-twenties.

The grip on Kayden’s shirt tightened. “What are you doing with my girlfriend?” He recognised that voice.

“Gordon, stop it already.” Lexi’s voice sounded bored and wary at the same time. So his name was Gordon.

Tooth ignored her. “Answer me,” he urged Kayden.

Kayden tried to snatch himself away, but Tooth’s grip was tight as ragged-toothed plier. “I am not doing anything with her.”

“Leave my friend alone.” Jake growled beside Kayden.

“This is between me and this kid here.” Tooth cast a warning glance at Jake. “I told you already…Tooth. I wasn’t doing anything with her…”

Tooth’s other arm flew back and he slapped his fist against Kayden’s jaw. Kayden staggered backward. His view was momentarily blurry and he could taste metal in his mouth.

“Gordon, leave him alone!” Lexi yelled. “He’s telling the truth!”

It was Dorothy. She squeezed past Lexi and the boys. “Lexi was the one bothering him. I saw everything.”

Tooth seemed to consider her statement for a split second, but then, his face hardened and he closed in on Kayden again. “I don’t believe you.”

Then he swung again. Harder.

Kayden fell to the floor on his butt, waves of dizziness rushing over his head and body.

“You son of a….” Jake lunged at Tooth and belted him across the face. Fredrick and Danny rushed forward to assist, and soon, it was Tooth against the three teenagers.

Kayden struggled to his feet, holding his injured side. Blood trickled out of his nostrils and the side of his mouth.

“Guys…guys…stop…”

Lexi was throwing a tantrum behind Tooth, but he couldn’t be less concerned.

Kayden wheezed, his gaze shifting slowly. His eyes settles on a large red button on the wall a few feet away.

People were screaming all around him. The scene was quickly becoming b****y, as Tooth’s g**g joined in the fight. Kayden staggered through the frenzied crowd and pressed his palm against the fire alarm.

It produced the effect he had hoped.

Tooth and his g**g panicked at the sound of the fire alarm, and began pushing people out of their way.

“Are you okay?” Jake emerged behind him, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder. “I’ll…I’ll be fine. How are the others?”

“Fredrick’s got a broken thumb. I think Danny’s fine, save for a few bruises.”

“You have to get out of here, Jake. The fire squad will soon be here. It’s an illegal beer party. You’re underaged.”

“We’re the same age, you dumbass.” “Oh, true.”

“I think you might be crazy.” Jake pulled his friend’s arm over his own shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Dorothy came rushing towards them. “Pass the back door. Over there. Tooth will be in the parking lot. You don’t want him getting a hold of you again.”

“Alright, thanks.”

Dorothy squeezed a white towel into Kayden’s hand and scuttled off. “I…I thought she hated me,” Kayden muttered confusedly.

“Let’s go, buddy. Let’s get ya home.”

Kayden’s eyes lingered on Dorothy’s retreating figure as his friend pulled him away.